Category «Congress»

Congress.gov Beta Legislative Site Readies for Prime Time as the new official website – replacing THOMAS

News release: “The free legislative information website, Congress.gov, is transitioning into its permanent role as the official site for federal legislative information from the U.S. Congress and related agencies.The site, which launched in beta form last fall and features platform mobility, comprehensive information retrieval and user-friendly presentation, is replacing the nearly 20-year-old THOMAS.gov. Beginning Nov. 19, typing …

Subjects: Congress, E-Government, Government Documents, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Libraries

Senate Intelligence Committee Approves FISA Improvements Act

Increases privacy protections, oversight, transparency of critical intelligence programs: The Senate Intelligence Committee [October 31, 2013] approved the FISA Improvements Act by a vote of 11-4. The bipartisan legislation increases privacy protections and public transparency of the National Security Agency call-records program in several ways, while preserving the operational effectiveness and flexibility of this vital …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Courts, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Patriot Act, Privacy

New GAO Reports – Sequestration, Corporate Tax Expenditures, Defense Health Care Reform, GPS Disruptions, Info Tech, Transportation Disadvantaged Populations, Private Pensions

SEQUESTRATION – Observations on the Department of Defense’s Approach in Fiscal Year 2013, GAO-14-177R, Nov 7, 2013 CORPORATE TAX EXPENDITURES – Evaluations of Tax Deferrals and Graduated Tax Rates, GAO-13-789, Sep 16, 2013 DEFENSE HEALTH CARE REFORM – Additional Implementation Details Would Increase Transparency of DOD’s Plans and Enhance Accountability, GAO-14-49, Nov 6, 2013 GPS DISRUPTIONS – Efforts to Assess Risks to …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Government Documents, Health Care, Transportation

Commentary explores the historical roots of regional gun violence in America

The Battle Lines of Today’s Debates Over Gun Control, Stand-Your-Ground Laws, and Other Violence-Related Issues Were Drawn Centuries Ago by America’s Early Settlers, by Colin Woodard, Tufts Magazine Fall 2013. “…Our death rate from assault is many times higher than that of most other countries, whether highly urbanized or sparsely populated. State-sponsored violence, too—in the …

Subjects: Congress, Legislation

CRS – Israel: Background and U.S. Relations

Israel: Background and U.S. Relations – Jim Zanotti, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs – November 1, 2013 “Since Israel’s founding in 1948, successive U.S. Presidents and many Members of Congress have demonstrated a commitment to Israel’s security and to maintaining close U.S.-Israel defense, diplomatic, and economic cooperation. U.S. and Israeli leaders have developed close relations …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Government Documents

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses, Kenneth Katzman, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs. November 4, 2013 “A priority of Obama Administration policy has been to reduce the perceived threat posed by Iran to a broad range of U.S. interests. Well before Iran’s nuclear issue rose to the forefront of U.S. concerns about Iran in 2003, …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Government Documents

Report of National Commission for Review of Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Community, Unclassified Version

Report of the National Commission for the Review of the Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Community, Unclassified Version, released November 2013 “The global spread of scientific and technical knowledge challenges U.S. national security. It threatens to erode essential capabilities of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) and the strength of the U.S. …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Defense, E-Government, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Knowledge Management, Patriot Act, Privacy

CRS – Unemployment Insurance: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Laws

Unemployment Insurance: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws – Katelin P. Isaacs, Analyst in Income Security, October 30, 2013 “This report analyzes several types of recent changes to state Unemployment Compensation (UC) programs. Three categories of UC state law issues are considered: (1) changes in the duration of state UC unemployment benefits; (2) …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Financial System, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation

CRS – Sovereign Debt in Advanced Economies

Sovereign Debt in Advanced Economies: Overview and Issues for Congress, Rebecca M. Nelson – Analyst in International Trade and Finance. October 28, 2013 “High levels of sovereign debt in advanced economies are of interest to Congress for a number of reasons. First, the IMF has identified advanced economy debt as a possible threat to the global economic recovery, as countries …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Financial System, Government Documents

UK Guardian’s interactive interviews, charts open the debate on NSA surveillance

NSA Files Decoded – Edward Snowden’s surveillance revelations explained – By EWEN MACASKILL and GABRIEL DANCE – Produced by FEILDING CAGE and GREG CHEN “When Edward Snowden met journalists in his cramped room in Hong Kong’s Mira hotel in June, his mission was ambitious. Amid the clutter of laundry, meal trays and his four laptops, …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, E-Government, E-Mail, E-Records, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Patriot Act, Privacy

New and Updated Resources Look at the Uninsured and the Affordable Care Act

“The Kaiser Family Foundation has updated two resources on health coverage and the uninsured and created a new interactive feature that highlights several segments of the uninsured population and how they are likely to be affected by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Uninsured: A Primer – Key Facts about Health Insurance on the Eve …

Subjects: Congress, Government Documents, Health Care, Legislation

Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy

CRS – Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy, Kenneth Katzman – Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs – October 23, 2013 “The United States and its partner countries are reducing military involvement in Afghanistan as Afghan security forces assume lead security responsibility throughout the country. The current international security mission will terminate at the end of 2014 and likely …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Defense, Government Documents, Legislation

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